Legislators outline plans for Beverly at Chamber Breakfast

Thursday

May 2, 2013 at 12:01 AMMay 2, 2013 at 2:12 AM

Local and state lawmakers provided insight on Beverly and their plans for its future at the Beverly Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Legislative Breakfast event, held last Friday morning at the Larcom Theatre on Wallis Street.

Nick Malfitano/ nmalfitano@wickedlocal.com

Local and state lawmakers provided insight on Beverly and their plans for its future at the Beverly Chamber of Commerce’s inaugural Legislative Breakfast event, held last Friday morning at the Larcom Theatre on Wallis Street.

Beverly Mayor Bill Scanlon, state Rep. Jerry Parisella and state Sen. Joan Lovely all delivered remarks in an hour-long presentation during the event to an audience of local business owners and members of the Chamber of Commerce.

Karen Nascembeni, director of Corporate and Community Relations for the North Shore Music Theatre, acted as Master of Ceremonies for the event and introduced the featured speakers, along with Beverly Chamber of Commerce Director John Somes. Following their introduction, Scanlon addressed the audience.

“Beverly is a city that thinks it’s a town,” said Scanlon, making reference to the fact that despite its size, Beverly puts emphasis on any key issue, regardless of size, much as a town would.

“We spend a great deal more money on public education than the budget demands,” said Scanlon. “The most important thing for cities to do is develop a good educational system to ensure that people are smart enough to compete on a worldwide basis.”

Scanlon continued that public school enrollment has increased in Beverly since fiscal 2011, a trend that will continue in future years. To that end, the mayor touted the statement of interest submitted to the Massachusetts School Building Authority (MSBA) for a new middle school.

“It’s a two-house approach, one for grades five and six, and one for grades seven and eight,” Scanlon explained, saying that the new middle school would also provide Beverly with more room in its elementary school buildings.

Scanlon stated that much-needed work for streets and sidewalks is upcoming, and that the city will be able to pool $600,000 gained from lowering healthcare costs along with increased Chapter 90 money from the state (to the tune of $1.5 million) in order to make the street and sidewalk work possible.

The mayor also explained that within two years a massive renovation project will be underway to redo all of Route 1A from the Memorial Bridge; in effect, all of Rantoul Street.

Scanlon once again mentioned the Brimbal Avenue Interchange Project on his list of city priorities as well.

The mayor said that upgrades to the building shell of Beverly City Hall and the Beverly Public Library are also in the works, which are much needed due to problems with leaks and other structural concerns.

“The future is quite good. All of you and many others make Beverly better,” said Scanlon.

Rep. Parisella talks transportation, heroism

Parisella began by offering his congratulations to the mayor on turning around Beverly’s finances when he first took office in 1993. At that time, Beverly was saddled with an $8 million deficit and a bond rating in “rough shape,” according to Parisella.

Parisella said that the Massachusetts State House of Representatives just passed their $34 billion budget, and that the budget process in the Massachusetts State Senate will now commence, with a final budget delivered by July 1.

He also elaborated on another pressing political issue in Massachusetts.

“Transportation is a key issue; there have been a lot of challenges this year,” said Parisella, explaining that the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) was burdened by a lot of debt attached to the “Big Dig” project, a massive re-routing of Interstate 93 into a three-and-a-half mile tunnel through downtown Boston.

He said that some tax increases were approved on gasoline and cigarettes in order to help remedy some of the huge costs associated with transportation upgrades.

“Raising taxes is not easy, but services would have been cut and tolls and fares would have gone up if we didn’t,” said Parisella. “We felt it was the fairest way to accomplish our aim for transportation.”

Parisella then turned his attention to the Boston Marathon bombings on April 15.

“It was a tragic event, but there were a lot of heroic actions that day,” said Parisella, explaining that a lot of lessons were learned through combat medical care in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that many first responders in Boston on that day were veterans who put their updated military first aid training to use in the field.

Parisella himself is a major in the U.S. Army Reserves and served an active tour of duty in Iraq. He also currently serves as vice chairman of the House Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs.

“Some of the actions taken by first responders saved lives that day,” said Parisella, who displayed a military first aid kit to the audience. “It just shows that some of the servicemen and women make an impact on everyday lives and what happens in their communities.”

Sen. Joan Lovely speaks on election, roads, education

Sen. Lovely, who grew up in Beverly and attended Beverly High School, also spoke Friday and explained that before becoming state senator, she served for 15 years on the Salem City Council. She described working closely with Parisella and his staff in her new role.

“We’re in communication nearly every morning,” said Lovely. “Rep. Parisella and his staff have been warm and welcoming, and we’re working together for you.”

Lovely described co-chairing the Senate Joint Committee on Mental Heath & Substance Abuse and serving as vice chairman of the Senate Joint Committee on Veterans and Federal Affairs. Lovely also works as part of the Senate Joint Committee on Election Laws, her next talking point.

“We’re taking up some important bills,” said Lovely.

Lovely said that one bill in the works, if passed, would allow for an early voting provision for voters, in addition to the option of voting through an absentee ballot.

Lovely said that she also serves on the Senate Joint Committees of Tourism, Arts and Cultural Development, Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure and that of Community Development and Small Business.

“We want to make sure that Massachusetts allows small businesses to thrive,” said Lovely.

Gov. Deval Patrick had been seeking to combine bills on transportation and education in a $1.9 billion package of legislation. Lovely said that the state Senate decided to take a more “moderate” approach to those issues by addressing them separately.

Lovely said that the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) was funding its salaries through bonding, which is “not a good way to budget.” The senator added that she co-sponsored an amendment with state Sen. Karen Spilka that would freeze all tolls in Massachusetts until toll equity was made possible statewide — instead of just certain geographic areas bearing the burden of toll fees.

“We believe it’s a user fee,” said Lovely. “You use the roads, you pay for the roads.”

Lovely also mentioned the importance of properly funding education, and said that she supported a budget line item that would continue funding to instruct parents how to read to their children.

“You have to start them young so that they’re successful later on,” said Lovely.

Lovely also touched on the timely release of the increased funds in Chapter 90 money, so that repairs can be made on city and town roads. The senator also voiced her support for the Brimbal Avenue Interchange Project in Beverly.

“I’m looking forward to working with the community and appreciate the opportunity to be here,” said Lovely.